Please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit, my best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low stress, non-addictive, gender neutral, celebration of the winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion, or secular practices of your choice, with respect for the religious/secular persuasions and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all. And a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling, and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally accepted calendar year 2006, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions to society have helped make America great, (not to imply that America is necessarily greater than any other country, area or other agglomerate of countries or is the only "America " in the western hemisphere), and without regard to the race, creed, color, age, physical and/or mental ability and/or disability, religious faith, choice of computer platform, political party or sexual preference of the wishee.



(By accepting this greeting, you are accepting these terms.  This greeting is subject to clarification or withdrawal.  It is freely transferable with no alteration to the original greeting.  It implies no promise by the wisher to actually implement any of the wishes for her/him or others, and is void where prohibited by law, and is revocable at the sole discretion of the wisher.  This wish is warranted to perform as expected within the usual application of good tidings for a period of one year, or until the issuance of a subsequent holiday greeting, whichever comes first, and warranty is limited to replacement of this wish or issuance of a new wish at the sole discretion of the wisher.)
 
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Iron Horse Squad
[LoR] [RoM] [BC] [CDS] [WM] [GRoM] [IH] {BoA}
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Sith Guardian
CM/SG Jikkyo "Angel" Nimiichi/Eagle 1-1/Sith/Dark Jedi Order/Vast Empire [VP:1]
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Actually, "Happy winter solstice" is not politically correct; it's a pagan holiday...

I'm one of those strange folks who is actually offended by political correctness. It just insults me, for some reason. I'd rather be told "happy Kwanzaa" than "happy holidays"...
 
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SC/WO1 Chipmunk Man/Aegis 1/Phoenix/mSSD Atrus/DEF/VEN/VE/(=A=)(=SA=)(=*MA*=)[LoC][MC:1]x3[LSM][VC:B]

"I know what you're thinking, punk. You're thinking, 'Did he fire six shots, or only five?' Well to tell you the truth, I've forgotten myself in all this excitement. But being this is a .44 magnum, the most powerful handgun in the world, and will blow your head clean off, you need to ask youself one question: 'Do I feel lucky?' Well, do ya? Punk!"
-"Dirty" Harry Callahan

Granted, any idea can be taken too far, but being "offended" by political correctness probably implies you can't see any other point of view. 

There's a danger between going to the Newspeak-esque language of the current administration and the ultra-PC of those on the other end of the spectrum, but disavowing that some groups get pretty much bludgeoned by Christmas really isn't something that garners victim status, which is what offense implies.

Mileage and opinions may vary, but I'm pretty sure an innoculous "Happy Holidays" doesn't constitute a threat to western civilization; especially considering a mean-spirited talk show goon who practices adulterous kinky phone sex with one of his staffers is leading the charge on this so-called "war".
 
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PRF/SM Fury/VEA/TADATH/VE [MoH][SCPx2][PoC][SotE:HC][SotE:VEA][MSM][IOC]
Prefect - Stormtrooper Corps
Administrator - Imperial Center

Yet, strangely, I am sure no other religion is affected in any way, especially not Islam.

There is no such thing as PC, we only like to think there is so we don't realize we are being slowly ground down by those we have oppressed in the past. Why? Because no politician in power has the backbone to stand up to a group of probably about 5 people who demand something of them despite that the general population wants the opposite but as usual can't be bothered to speak.

Sorry, sensitive subject.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all.

Tallanvor, once again, that's a really cynical view. Not altogether wrong in certain distinct cases, but definitely not the majority of what you oppose in any sense.

It's kind of like those old, wrinkled senators who want a return to the "good old days" of no civil rights, no voting for women, and children working in factories at the age of four.

No, not buying it.

In the end, it should be about respect. If you aren't bludgeoning someone over the head with a concept, then check to see if the whole is fine with it.  You can have nativity scenes and full blown passion plays on private property, you just can't do it on publicly funded areas.  Considering that most parts of the country aren't publicly owned (and I live out west so even we can arrange this) wondering what your city council can or cannot do shouldn't be an issue. I mean, seriously, does anyone listen to them any other time of year?

As for whether or not people "mean it" when they say Happy Holidays, it's all about familiarity.  If you feel pressured to say it, of course it comes out false. If you are made to feel inferior and apologetic for saying it, of course Merry Christmas comes out easier and better.  Nobody wants to be too different from their environment.

I've lived around all kinds of people with all kinds of faith (or none) all my life. Happy Holidays was kind of the de rigeur thing to say growing up.  It's "normal" to me in ways it may not be to you.

Only until lately has it even become a confrontational thing.  I suppose if you live in the Plains in a small ranching town with only Protestants and Catholics, the whole thing seems silly.  However, if you live in a more diverse place, the argument does make sense. You aren't being asked to give something up, you are being asked to open your mind a little.

In any case, making blanket derogatory statements that your world view is under assault doesn't cut it. Enjoy the time of year for what it is and quit being so angry all the time that you have to share this big world with others.

And yes Chip, Merry Christmas to you and to those who celebrate it.
 
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PRF/SM Fury/VEA/TADATH/VE [MoH][SCPx2][PoC][SotE:HC][SotE:VEA][MSM][IOC]
Prefect - Stormtrooper Corps
Administrator - Imperial Center

Anyway... :P

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays.

I'm sure Hallmark will try their very best efforts in making your statement fit into a card, Angel.
 
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Cleric "Cosmic" Vor'soth
CoT/MG Cosmic/HCA-3/SL/Drill Squad/Tadath/VEA/VE
[OPE][OTH][OPA][EW1][CDS][IH][GS][LM][SoS][CRoM][CoH][PoC][MSM][SCP][SoA][IOC]
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Cleric "Cosmic" Vor'soth
SL/KPR Cosmic/Lion 1-1/Lopen/VEDJ/VE
[VP][WoS2][KC1][SoY][EoP][OAK]
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wow, that was supposed to be a joke, lol.

anyway, I don't care what people say. I tell my boss (Jewish) Merry Christmas, and he says Happy Channuka back. the idea is wishing someone good tidings, and people need to learn to see past the words and look more at the spirit they were offered in. if you get offended by me saying "merry christmas" then you need your head examind. end of story.

Summary, everyone should take things in the spirit in which they were intended. Merry Christmas is just as valid as Merry Kwanza, Happy Ramadan blah blah blah. they all boil down to the same general greeting.

"good tidings on this day"
 
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Iron Horse Squad
[LoR] [RoM] [BC] [CDS] [WM] [GRoM] [IH] {BoA}
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Sith Guardian
CM/SG Jikkyo "Angel" Nimiichi/Eagle 1-1/Sith/Dark Jedi Order/Vast Empire [VP:1]
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  Happy Christmas everyone!
 
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|FL/SCRW_Demonic/Kaph 5/PheonixWing/mSSD Atrus/DEF/VEN/VE| (=*A*=)
100% on my Exam, looking good.
Demonic = Darr-Rann
Kaph 2nd flight leader